I didn’t set many milestones for myself along this weight loss journey. I knew going in that it was going to be a long process and I would have to take my hits of happy along the way on a regular basis. Still, there were some markers in my mind and I’ve reached one today.
Before I share it, I need to backtrack a little because some of the celebration about this milestone also involves releasing another area of shame. All along while I’ve shared the number of pounds I’ve lost and been open that I wasn’t just morbidly obese for super obese, I do not believe I ever brought myself to say exactly how much I weighed before the surgery. The number was so huge that I flinched to think about it and it still makes me clench a little inside. So, today I get rid of that shame too. The last time that I got on my scale at home before driving to Miami a day before my surgery I weighed 386 pounds. Whew. I can feel some emotional lightening just in typing that number. I’m not hiding it anymore.
Now to the milestone. Today when I stepped on the scale, I weighed 299 pounds. I’ve lost 87 pounds which is, pardon the pun, huge. Even moreso, this is the first time that my weight has started with a two, not a three, for decades. I honestly do not remember when I last weighed less than 300 pounds. My sister-in-law says I was in the 170s when she and my brother married in 1982. I honestly don’t remember being that low. I’d lost a bit over 100 pounds prior to that happy day but I’d started that particular diet when I was 303.
Anyway, I know I’ve been over the 300 pound mark for at least 20 years, maybe 25. A sobering thought, as I enjoy my older nephew’s visit, is that I’m the thinnest I’ve been in his entire life.
299. That still means that I’m obese, but holy wow! I’m out of the 300s and that’s a tremendous achievement. I’m going to celebrate, not by eating, but by simply enjoying the beautiful day. I think I’ll also ask my nephew to take a picture. It’s been a while since I posted a comparison shot and this smilestone is an appropriate day for one. (I just made up a word — smilestone, as in milestones that make us happy!)
Next milestone: Hitting the century mark of losing 100 pounds. It’s not far off at all!
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Something messed up and the old version reappeared, so I’m updating with photos again.
This is a pre-surgery picture from last year. This picture was taken today. I have no idea why I pointed my feet in one direction but turned my body the other way. LOL
Weighty Matters 
Congratulations, Mary! This is so awesome.
One of the things I forced myself to give up at the start of this journey was shame. My highest weight, when I started the approval process & seminars etc., was 381, and that was, I believe, in February or March 2011.
I lost about 15 pounds by the time I had my surgery in July 2011.
As of today, almost a year from my surgery, approximately 16 months since my highest weight, I am at 218. I can’t remember being at 218 for much of my adult life. It is an awesome feeling.
My milestones were 299 (for getting under 300) and 274 (one pound less than I got down to when I was doing Atkins several years ago, & where I stalled horribly). From there, it’s been little milestones … the 10 pound drops, getting out of the 240s, out of the 230s, etc. Today I dropped out of the 220s into the 210s.
My next major milestone is 199. I’d love to reach it by July, which will be my 1 year anniversary from the surgery, but not sure that will happen.
So … keep at it. You and I started at nearly the same weight. Look where I am almost a year out. You will be there, too … and perhaps faster than I got there. Keep doing what you are doing and know that as you make the changes in your head, as you learn to embrace a new lifestyle, as you learn to DELIGHT in the changes and the lifestyle, you will get where you need to be.
And everyday, I tell myself, I’m going to keep striving for further improvement, but if I never lose another pound, I’m full of joy at where I am right now, because of how far I’ve come, how healthy I am now, how much more I can do, and how good I look. You are doing the same.
And if you want to see some before/afters of me, here’s a link to the most recent pictures on my blog (I do medieval re-enactment, that’s why I’m wearing funny clothes):
http://windroses.wordpress.com/2012/05/07/crown-list-pix-vs-mgt/
Face to a name, and all that …
Well freaking done! Knowing that you are about six months ahead of me on this journey, it has been so helpful to read your comments here about your progress and phenomenal success. CONGRATULATIONS! Keep up the fantastic work. Thank you for your openness and honesty.
My pleasure, and back at ya! ;=)
Brava Mary!!!! I’m so proud of you. You look great and so happy!
p.s. the porch looks great!!
The porch is definitely coming along! I’m waiting for the wicker loveseat I ordered to arrive in a couple of weeks, along with the ottoman that’s on back order. I’m going to add at least one container of flowers and, I think, perhaps a potted lemon tree.
You look so happy! That’s what I see looking at your picture – joy and happiness. Yes, you can see the weight loss, yes you look beautiful, but the joy and happiness I see is what makes you truly beautiful.
Oh Mary, so beautiful! And yes, releasing that shame is, lol, (as you said) huge! Way to go. What a smilestone!
Julie
Mary, you look fantastic!! Love the pictures! You’re gorgeous!
Wow! Great pictures. I love that you are smiling in both. Please tell me that you can see the weight loss. I think you look beautiful in both pictures, but all your effort to lose weight is really showing now. Good job.
Egads
Oh yes. I definitely can see the weight loss!
fyi, i think you twisted away from your toes in the pic because you aren’t used to being proud of your gorgeousness yet. And you were ALWAYS gorgeous.
Beautiful! So glad for you and proud of you. Today I broke a little weight milestone myself, dropping below 175 for the first time since I had the baby (I did nOT enjoy typing that btw). Have a fabulous celebration day!
Congrats, Mary. You rock!
That’s a wonderful milestone, Mary. I’m so happy for you. I think you are doing great and should be proud of yourself. You go, girl.
Egads
How fantastic, Mary! I’m grinning for you! Your journey is an inspiration! Keep on the path, baby, and yes, pictures please!!
You are a goddess, and we deserve pics – congratulations, and believe me getting from over 200 to under is a wonderful feeling as well…one that I have to break again, as I was down to 190 and have now crept back up to 209….and you’ve inspired me to get my act together and get to my target weight of 180 by September.
Go girl, and well done.
Like Roben said – I want a picture with smiles!! Congratulations! That is an awesome achievement.
Congratulations! I’m so happy for you and your hitting this smilestone. It must feel tremendously good.
And congratulations on releasing some shame. Shame has so much power over our lives that releasing those things that cause us shame is very freeing. So good work on that!
Wow! That is amazing. What an achievement. Yes, we want pictures, with smiles. : )
Congratulations! What a “smilestone” that is! I hope you continue this blog until you reach your personal happy number–it’s inspiring to read.