What's on your Menu today (Photo Friday!) RNYers?

Your transformation is so amazing, I am inspired every time I see it. Lovely, inside and out.

Some how I either have not seen your before photos or I just forget. You are someone I see and think, "She has always been thin obviously" and yet there you are. Wow. Such a difference. Isn't it amazing to think of all the things that you have accomplished! Congratulations.

Inspirational!

I agree with Amy..Jaw dropping! A true inspiration!

Wow! Really incredible difference... great work!

Wow, just wow. I always forget peoples before pictures and it's just amazing to look at. Healthy and happy

Wonderful!

Good morning Gang! I'm so freaking glad it's Friday, I could cry. I've had a rough couple of days. Hubby has been gone since Tuesday morning and is finally coming home today. I am still recovering from plastics and the swelling has come back into my lower extremities, though not as bad as before. I feel like I am being run ragged. On a more positive note, I went to see my surgeon last night and they removed one of my drains, which was not a pleasant experience, but I am glad to have it gone. I'm hoping that my right one will be ready to come out next Thursday, but I'm still draining a bit more on that side. The nurse said it's because it's my dominant side and I subconsiously use it more, so it's common that the drains on that side stay in longer.

Accountability: I did okay with my intake yesterday, I'm not perfect, but I'm staying at or under 1200 calories a day. My carb intake was a bit high the last few days, and I'm not making any excuses. I need to learn to cope better when my husband is out of town and I have the added pressure on me. I'm going to lighten up on myself a bit, since my ciru****tances are a bit more strained than usual, with the fact that I'm just 3 weeks post of from plastics and I'm having mild complications with the swelling. That being said, this morning I'm back down to my pre-plastics weight, even though I'm still holding a lot of water. My surgeon prescribed a water pill yesterday, so I'll pick it up from the pharmacy today and hope that it will help with the swelling.

Also, in other good news, I am meeting with a new therapist on Monday. I was contacted by EMU (Eastern Michigan University) about a group program that they were wanting me to participate in. While I was going through the pre-admission interview to make sure I was qualified, the interviewer asked me if I would be interested in one on one sessions, that it would help with research and could be beneficial to me. It's close to home, practically free, and I haven't seen my old therapist in a few months. So, my intake session is Monday morning. I'm looking forward to it. I will actually be meeting with a Psychology Graduate Student, and the whole process is overseen by the Clinal Psychology Staff. All of the sessions are recorded and video taped and used for training purposes within the University. Of course, I could have refused to allow it, but what the hell? I'm pretty screwed up and if I can help in any way, I'm all for it. It's funny, when I was having the initial interview over the telephone, I could tell that the interviewer was a little excited when I was giving my history, since I am a **** storm of ****** up from an early age. He wasn't rude or unprofessional, of course, but I could tell that he was excited about me. I'm also very blunt and open about all of my experiences, my issues with food, men, sex, life in general, etc. so I'm sure that I'll be a good study for them. And if I get anything at all out of it, it will be a win for me. Now, if I can go in and not try to sugar coat my issues, which I have a tendency to do, then I'll be good.

DD2QOTD: OH has been such a huge source of support for me. It's had it's highs and it's lows, but honestly, I don't know where I'd been without this site and all of the people here. I feel like my surgeon and NUT gave me a small, tiny bit of info and then sent me out into the woods to fend for myself. I have learned more here than all of the info provided by my surgeons office, nut, psychologist, etc. combined. I can't imagine how people can be even remotely successful without the support of a community such as this. I think that if surgeons and surgery centers were to encourage or require that people find some sort of support to actually approve the surgery, then the success rate would be much higher. I know I'm still a newb, and that I'm only 2 years out and on the ass end of my honeymoon phase, and I KNOW how hard it has been to this point, I can imagine what it will be in another year, 2 years, 10 years... That's why, despite issues that I've had, I try to come back at least weekly. I refuse to let myself fall into the denial, or the complacency that is so easy to do once we get comforatable with our pouches and with our weight loss. So, thank you to OH, and to all of you who are here to support.

23.5 Months since Surgery and current weight is 165.4

B: Everything bagel w/ cream cheese and a large coffee with cream and splenda from Tim Horton's. I know, it was a very bad decision. I could have just ordered a couple of turkey sausage patties, which I love from there, but I was feeling overwhelmed and made the choice. I did eat the whole bagel, but not at once. I ate the first half on the way to drop my Kal off at my mom's, then I ate the other half on the way from there to work.

L: I was runnng late today and didn't pack anything. I am going to get a scoop of tuna salad on a bed of lettuce with some tomatoes from the Deli on the first floor on my building. No bread or crackers, and I can rarely fini****

AS: I'm going to buy a Premier Protein Clear from the Deli Downstairs. I'm kicking myself for not grabbing one from the fridge before I left for work, but I was in a rush to get here.

D: Again, no plans, but I have some chicken breast in the fridge that I cooked up on Sunday and needs to be finished off. It's just about 5 or 6 ounces, so I'll have that with salsa and mozzarella cheese.

Totals:

Stupid bagels.

Calories 1123 Protien 98 Carbs 76 Fat 49

Photo Friday:

This first photo is my before and is a collage that my SIL made after we went on a boating trip in July 2014. It popped up in my memories on facebook the other day. I am in the straw hat and holding my youngest on my lap.

This second photo was just taken in the bathroom at work on June 2nd, so a 3 weeks before my plastic surgery, my weight was holding steady at 165.

This final picture is of my feet, swollen, taken this morning here at work. I'm so uncomfortable that my feet feel like they are burning from the swelling. Uggh, I hope that the water pill works. I wish I had a pic of my feet before surgery, they were skinny!

You have come a long way. I love the shirt in the after pic-super cute. Hope you get to feeling better and the water pill will hopefully work for you.