Im Back!

Hey guys!!

Sorry it has been so long, I have just been so busy with things going on in my life (all good things of course). First thing is first, I have just passed my 1 year Bandiversary on October 6th....woo hoo :o) Unfortunately I have not yet made it to my 100lbs down, but I am very close and I still feel as if I have done great. I am 95lbs down and I feel fantastic!! I haven't felt this good in I don't know how long, but it is amazing to not have to carry around this weight anymore!

This is short and sweet, but I hope all of you are doing well! I have some catching up to do on all of your blogs. Keep it up the great work and the hard work out there and I hope all of you had a great time in Chicago!! Wish I could have been there!!

As always, lets shed those extra pounds together!!

Catching Up...

I have no excuses, I am a terrible blogger! haha I have so much catching up to do on reading all of your wonderful blogs, the good news? I have started reading, the bad news? I have a long ways to go, but I promise I will get there!!

A quick update for me, I am doing great in my weight loss, however its very slow coming off right now...My current weight is 185lbs...which is my lowest ever, I am still trying to reach my big goal of 100lbs down, I have 6 more lbs to go, I know that I can do it, and I will get there! My 1 year anniversary is next month and at this point I don't know if I can make my big goal by then (this anniversary is of my surgery date by the way..haha I probably should have mentioned that). I know that if I put my mind to it, it will happen.

Today was a great day, I spent the day at the National Harbor with my lovely boyfriend. Its getting cooler here, and I am loving the weather, however I feel like I have no stores that I can shop at. I don't know what is wrong with me, but I feel like I still won't fit into the clothes at the regular stores. I tried to go shopping yesterday, I have a coupe of functions coming up that I need some nice outfits for, and I just feel like there is nothing cute out there that would fit me! Where do you guys shop and get your cute clothes from? I need help here!!! haha

I hope you all had a great weekend and I hope everyone has a good week coming up!! Keep up the great work out there, I am going to go catch up on what all of you are doing, even though I already know its going to be wonderful things!! As always, lets shed those extra pounds together!!

Getting Closer..

Hello All,

I know it has been a while since my last blog, but work has been hectic and I really just didn't have anything new to report. However that is not the case today! I have brand new numbers in that I am pleased to announce. I have really hit a plateau in my weight, but its okay. I am doing great where I am and finally my weight has decided to go in the right direction...DOWN...haha.

New numbers...

Starting Weight: 279lbs
Todays Weight: 186lbs
Weight Loss Total: 93lbs

My Major goal that I would like to hit is 100lbs down, I have 7lbs to go and I know I can get there with hard work and determination. I thank all of you so much everyday for giving me a place that I can read and get motivated by all of you out there! Without you all, I know that my weight loss would be much slower. Thank you all for all of your support!

Really quick before I forget, I know some of you previously have asked me how tall I am, I am 5'7" Not sure if that helps anyone...haha. I will also be taking more pictures this weekend, so hopefully they will be posted soon after I take them.

I hope everyone has a great Labor Day weekend out there!! Keep up the hard work and as always, lets shed those extra pounds together!!

Weekend Photos

I hope you all are having a great weekend out there. The weather has been kinda yucky here this weekend, but luckily not as hot as it has been. I thought I would share a couple of photos with you all. This is me at my lowest weight so far and in the smallest size pants of my journey so far. I hope you all enjoy.

Me...188lbs Size 12 Jeans

Same as above, just a side view

It is getting harder and harder these days to drop more weight, however I did have a long discussion with my surgeon about this, and he feels like I have no more weight to lose. However, I still feel like there is more to be lost and I am determined to get to my personal goal. Have any of you gone through this? I realize I am going to have to fix any issues I have in my mind, I do still feel sometimes when the clothes come off that I haven't lost 1lb from being 279lbs. Even when people touch me on the shoulder or ask me to do something simple, I have complex of "what are you crazy, I can't do that I am extremely overweight, what makes you think I can do this?" And then I remember wait, this is something I can do because I am not carrying the weight I used to. I know you all are probably confused with this last statement, but if there are any of you out there who understand this, do you ever feel like this?

Anyways, I hope you all are enjoying your weekend. As always, lets shed those extra pounds together!

New pictures...

Hello everyone, I hope you all are having a great week. I just wanted to share a couple of pictures with you. I finally got my hair done and I am able to wear it down...so enjoy the pictures. I am wearing scrubs and about to go to work in the pictures, but I was having a good hair day...haha. These are new scrubs as well...and in a much small size I might add which is exciting to me.

Me...189lbs

I know all of you are doing great things out there, I enjoy reading each and every one of your blogs. Keep up the great work and as always, lets shed those extra pounds together!!

New numbers!!!

Well HAPPY FRIDAY to all, it sure is a happy friday for me!!

I was stuck between 190lbs and 193lbs and could not get past it for some time now, but today my numbers finally dropped and I have entered a new stage of numbers...thats right I am now in the 180s!!!!! I weighed in at 189.4lbs. SOOOOO excited!!! Not only did I enter a new set of numbers but that meants I have a hit a new goal as well....today I have lost a total of 90lbs.

Its a short blog tonight, but I wanted to share this with all of you, I really could not have made it this far without all of you to back me up! Thank you so much for always motivating me, I absolutely love you all!!  I hope everyone has a terrific weekend!! Keep up the GREAT work out there and as always, lets shed those extra pounds together!!

Its all in my head...

Hello and good morning to everyone out there,

Its been a very HOT weekend here, I am talking triple digits. Anyways, I have really  been trying to change my style of clothing, however I have had much difficulty finding stores that spark my style. My mom and I went to an outlet mall yesterday and I was really excited to go, I have dropped several sizes since being heavy and I was ready to try on anything and everything.

We start shopping and for some reason every store I would walk into, I would see the TINY people going in and out of the stores and looking at the size of the clothes I would walk in and then walk out and tell my mom that nothing in that store would probably fit me. Of course she did the mom thing and said "Michelle I hate to tell you, but you will fit into those clothes now."

I guess I feel like when I take my clothes off, ALL of my weight reappears (due to excess skin). And then of course my self esteem drops several points. So what did I come out with from the outlet mall? 3 bras which I needed new bras anyways. Turns out I dropped a complete cup size and actual size (not bad).  However, I wasn't happy walking out of that mall with absolutely no new clothes! I went to the outlet mall wanting to find some really cute tops (different from my typical old navy style which I can't stand anymore) and I always see these really cute long sun dresses and I wanted to find one for myself...again failed. So long story short, I went home a little disappointed thinking there are no stores for me out there!

So I told my sister, Rachel, the story. I have come to the conclusion that I think its better if I go shopping alone. Then I don't have to feel as if I am holding someone up or rushing to look at things. So I decided to attempt shopping once more last night and went to Khols, where I really have never shopped. I was on my way talking to Rachel and telling her about my day and the clothes that I was looking for. She said Khols is a great place to start, but if I wanted a sundress I would have to look for it in the juniors department. Immediate RED FLAG in my mind. I told her are you crazy? There is no way anything from the juniors department is going to fit me. Rachel told me I had to just try, and she assured me that the sundresses would fit. So she wanted me to take her shopping with me, however Rachel lives in FL. So shopping with her was through my camera phone. I actually found a dress that I really liked from the JUNIORS department and sent a picture to my sister and she said "you look adorable, and you better buy that!" haha I definitely took her advice and bought it, and showed my mom and she loved it too! So it turned my bad day in a brighter day!

So I still have to find some cute tops, maybe you all can help me, what stores do you shop at for your cute clothes? I definitely have to get better, and realize im not that heavy girl anymore. It will take some time, but I know I will get there. I will share my picture from the dressing room with you all. Enjoy.

My new Sun Dress...love it!

As always, lets shed those extra pounds together!! I hope you all are staying cool out there, and I hope everything is doing great! Enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Stuck...

Yup thats the name of it...STUCK! Not as in food though...as in my weight will not BUDGE...ok ok ok it will budge upward but not downward!!! I have been stuggling the past week or so and I even added more exercise into my regiman and for some reason my weight is fluctuating between 190 and 193lbs...I am trying to get to the 180s, but for some reason my body is just not having it right now! HELP!!!

The positive news....I bought my first size 12 jeans :o) SO exciting!! I would be even more excited though if I could get myself into the 180s...any tips or ideas would be GREAT for me!!

I hope you all are doing great out there...Keep up the awesome work...I am reading the great things you all are doing. As always, lets shed those extra pounds together!!

New pictures...

Hey guys!!

Well I just came back from a wonderful weekend in Wilmington, NC. I used to live there and Bryan and I went there for the weekend to see some really good friends. I also took some new pictures. Thought I would share with all of you.

Me...191 lbs Hotel room in NC

Side view 191 lbs

My best friend Amanda and I at Carolina Beach

Bryan and I getting ready for the fireworks

I hope you all have a very Happy 4th of July!! Spend it with the people you love and be safe out there!! As for me the weight is coming off slower these days but I am determined to lose 100lbs and I have 12lbs to go...I know I can do it!!! Enjoy the photos and have a great week out there!!

As always, lets shed those extra pounds together!!

Update

Hey everyone!

Just thought I would give you all an update...First thing is first...how is everyone doing out there?! I read so many great things and see how motivating each and every one of you are!

As for me, the new job is going great, I enjoy every minute of it! As for my weight it is coming along nicely. New numbers are in and they are as follows...

Starting weight: 279lbs
Current weight: 193lbs
Total weight loss: 86lbs

I wish I had time to write more, but I can hardly keep my eyes open. I hope all of you are doing great out there, I know you are! Can't wait to read and hear how things are going for everyone!

As always, lets shed those extra pounds together!!

New Blog Design!!

Hey guys check out my new blog design by Jen over at Justfoolinblogdesigns. She does AWESOME work and she will work with you on whatever you need. Thank you so much Jen for a Beautiful page I love it!!

Check out my awesome new picture button, I have posted all of my photos this far so you can see my progess. The photos start at my heaviest weight and go all the way down to my current weight. I will be adding pictures as I go along.

I hope all of you are doing great and as always, lets she those extra pounds together!!

Quick update...

Hello all,

I just wanted to give you all a quick update. I have family visiting from California, so I have been pretty occupied with that. We have done lots of stuff (Arlington Cemetary, Baltimore Harbor, Pensylvannia, and lots of other stuff too). But thats why I haven't been blogging lately.

Also in all the mess of things I got a new job :o) I will be working full time for the surgeon who did my surgery. As you all know I am a nurse and my doctors office had an opening and wanted me to work full time with them and I will also soon be teaching the seminars that we all went to before surgery. So I am very excited about that!!

As for my weight loss progress it is as follows...

Starting Weight: 279.6lbs
Todays Weight : 195.8lbs
Total weight loss: 84lbs

I have pictures coming, I just don't have time to post them right now, but as soon as my company leaves and I have some time you will all see new pictures!! SO excited!!

I know you all are doing great things out there, Keep up the great work and I will talk to you guys soon!!! As always, lets shed those extra pounds together!!

~*Michelle*~

ONEderland...

I have reached my first MAJOR goal in my weight loss journey! I didn't think it would be this soon in the week just because yesterday I weighed myself and I was 201.2lbs. I thought for sure I wouldn't reach my goal until the end of the week just because my weight loss has been going a lot slower these days. But as always my body gave me quite a suprise this morning.

I went walking this morning with my mom and boyfriend (Bryan). We did about 2 miles on a trail...we had never gone to this trail before so we thought we would give it a try and it turned out to be a great walk. Much  more challenging than the walks we normally do so it was a good walk this morning. I definitely broke a nice sweat. The great part was that I was actually doing it, when I was heavier I would always moan and groan about exercising and now I can't live without it!

I know I know you don't want me to ramble on anymore you just want the numbers! haha ok so here they are and as promised a picture of the scale :o)

Thats right! I have reached ONEderland!!!

Starting Weight: 279.6lbs
Current Weight: 198.4lbs
Total Weight Loss to date: 81.2lbs

I can't even tell you how thrilled I am to be at this point! This was my first big goal met and now I am on to working towards my next major goal and I am so happy that I have such a great support system (all of you out there) to follow me on this journey and to be here with me every step of the way. I could not be more thankful for a greater group of people! You all inspire me everyday with everything that each and every one of you do out there. It keeps me going and it keeps me motivated and for that I can't thank you all enough!

Enjoy the rest of the week out there and as always, lets shed those extra pounds together!

~*Michelle*~

Problems with Blogging...

Hey everyone, really quick, I am not sure if anyone is having any issues with blogging today, but for some reason I can't commet on anyones blog AND I can't get to the website with using http://www.blogspot.com/ I actually have to go to my web page and then go to my home page...so is anyone else having issues??? haha I have wanted to make comments on your blogs out there, but I can't so please bare with me.

I know Amanda over at Life of a (hopeful) loser was having a bad day and I tried to leave a comment Amanda so I will just leave it here...

You look BEAUTIFUL!!! Don't ever think for one second that you haven't changed, you look fabulous! I know its hard to see for yourself sometimes, I think that we all do that...because we still see ourselves as heavy. Im so sorry you didn't have a great time with your friends, I really wish I was going to the BOOBS convention just so I could meet you and make you feel better! Stay positive and know that you have done EXTREMELY well and you look fantastic!!

Let me know if anyone else is having problems...haha and if you can't leave a comment then I guess I know I am not the only one having issues.

Thanks everyone...

~*Michelle*~

Determination...

Good morning out there,

As you all know I having been trying to get to my first MAJOR goal since my surgery. I had a rough weekend where I put on 2lbs so it brought my weight to 203.6. Not a good thing! So I told myself that this is the week....this is the week that I am going to try my best to get to my first MAJOR goal (don't get me wrong, I have been trying) but my weight hasn't been going anywhere! So yesterday was Monday and I told myself that I was going to get all of my liquids in, eat what I am supposed to eat (which I normally do) and move a little more.

Weigh in this morning was 201.2lbs I am almost there! I really think my last fill was a good fill. I am really able to feel the restriction and I am very satisfied after a small meal.

So this week is all about determination. I am determined to try my best and hopefully reach my first MAJOR goal this week. I have 2lbs to lose and I know that if I stay focused and try my best thats all I can do and hopefully my body will work with me :o)

I will keep you all posted on my progress this week and maybe, just maybe I will get to see what ONEderland feels like :o) Lets all have a great week out there! And as always, lets shed those extra pounds together!!

~*Michelle*~

New Pictures and Numbers...

Hello all,

Just thought you would like an update...first off, I am still here! haha I went to the doctor today, had another fill of 0.4cc so I am now up to 6.6cc total in my band. The restriction is definitely there and I have to constantly think to CHEW CHEW CHEW or it comes right back up...ugh! Anyways I am not at my big goal yet, but on my way there. This morning at the doctors office I weighed in at 202.0lbs thats a loss of 5lbs from the last time I was at the doctor 3 weeks ago and I was 207lbs then. I am working hard towards ONEderland...its so close I can feel it!!!

I know all of you have been doing amazing things out there, and I have to just say Thank you to all of you for your support and kind words. It is so inspiring to me what all of you do in your different ways and I know we will all get to where we want to be! As always lets shed those extra pounds together!

I will leave you with 2 pictures that I took this morning...my lowest weight in I don't know how long...Enjoy!!



Me at 202.0lbs

Side View 202.0lbs



Blog Designs...

Hi guys!!

Ok so I have been noticing that almost all of you have really neat things on your blogs, whether its the little scale things or different tabs for different things...well anyways...I NEED HELP!! haha I don't know how to put any of that on my blog and I would love for someone to explain it to me if they can on how to change up the background to make it my own and all kinds of things...if anyone knows what I am talking about can you please help me figure it out! Thanks so much!! I hope everyone is having a great week...I know I am :o) As always lets shed those extra pounds together!!

~*Michelle*~

Beautiful Weekend...

Hey everyone...I thought I would give you all a weekend update. This weekend has been SO beautiful! Except this wonderful Sunday it was supposed to be nice and now its very cloudy with rain :o( At least we had a really nice day yesterday. I started playing golf with my mom, but instead of using the Golf cart around the course we like to walk it, so not only are we getting exercise from playing the game, but we walk the entire course as well, which I love doing anyways!!

I had a great week of weight loss, I know I was stuck for a little while and I just have to say Thank you to all of you for your positive comments, it means so much to me and I really love seeing how all of you are doing out there!! I am keeping up with all of your blogs and you guys are truely inspiring to me and it just keeps me going! So thank you!

As for my weight loss, I am down 2 more pounds from this past week...so my new numbers are in at 205lbs...getting closer to my first goal of being under 200lbs!! So I am at a total weight loss of 74lbs...woo hoo!! Almost there I can feel it! haha

I hope all of you have a great weekend (whats left of it) and a great week this week! And I had a request to take a picture of the scale and I promise to do that as soon as I hit my first goal which will be 199...And I will have new pictures coming as well!! Have a great week out there! As always lets shed those extra pounds together!!

~*Michelle*~

My complaining paid off..

Okay so I know I was completely complaining this morning about the scale not moving at all...BUT I have to tell you guys, this morning I weighed myself on my scale at home with the clothes on that I was going to go to the doctors office in and I weighed in at 209.6lbs...well my appointment wasn't until 1pm and I usually go  to my appointments in the early morning because I don't like to eat or drink before my appointment...well I probably didn't do a very good thing by not eating or drinking anything until my appointment today but it paid off! I got the doctor and weighed in at 207.0lbs...FINALLY I get to my 207...almost to ONEderland!! I know it was accurte because I also weighed myself again on my scale before I left home so its not at all that the scales are off...my scale is accurate with my doctors scale...so that would be 72lbs lost ;o) SO excited!!

Also I have to say, Thank you so much for all of your positive and truely inspiring comments!! It means so much to me and I thank you all so much for your support through this journey!! Keep up the great work out there!!

~*Michelle*~

Im still here...haha

Hey everyone!

I know I haven't blogged in a while, I have just been so busy with my new job and doing school work, that I just feel like there aren't enough hours in the day! Anyways, I wanted to come on here this morning and give you all a little update on everything.

The new job is going great, I truely love what I am doing and I really enjoy the people I work with!! I just feel like the environment is not stressful and I am very comfortable talking to everyone and we have a good time at work and are able to get work done, so its just a really great work environment and very stress free!! However there is temptation in the nursing office (which is where I work of course) So we have a very large candy dispenser in our office that you pretty much hold your hand in front of and it releases whatever is in it...everyone is really good about keeping it full...not so good for me right? lol its usually full of M & Ms and skittles...however, I am really good about not falling for the temptatation and thats why I usually keep something to drink handy. I am actually proud of myself for not giving in and just taking a handful of M & Ms when we have people coming into our office CONSTANTLY getting candy!

Ok so I have been a bit frustrated lately regarding my weight. I feel like I have been working so hard and keeping on track with my diet and my work outs and I am not seeing the numbers on the scale that I would like to be seeing. I feel like I have been fighting just to keep my weight maintained and thats not what I want. I want the numbers to go lower. So I have been hanging around 208 and 209 for quite a while now and I have yet to see 207. I am almost to ONEderland but I feel like every time I get on the scale I am further and further away. SO frustrating!

So today I have a doctors appointment and I haven't had a fill in quite a while, so I was thinking this past month has been really tough for me and I really think its time for a small fill and tighten things up a bit.

I am going to remain on track with what I am doing, and hopefully I will begin to see the numbers drop a bit and hopefully I can hit ONEderland soon :o) It will be my first major goal hit since my surgery. I am very excited and I know I promised you all new photos so here ya go...enjoy



BEFORE: Me in the 270s, at my heaviest



AFTER: Me at around 208-209lbs getting read for work

 I know all of you are doing great things out there! I have been reading!! Keep up the GREAT work and as always lets shed those extra pounds together!!

~*Michelle*~