Things I have discovered...

[Just Mon]

... since getting sleeved:

1. I have collar bones, knuckles, and ankles again!
2. I put my clothes in the dryer HOPING to shrink them, now.
3. I can now shop on the "regular" side of a clothing store that has a plus size and "regular" size.
4. People look at me like I've fallen out of a tree when I tell them I don't drink soda (or eat donuts).
5. And, when I say, "I don't crap like that because I don't LIKE it, I don't eat crap like that because I'm fat!" They say, "Oh, you are not!"
6. When comparing my size to the size of an obviously plus size woman, my BF will now argue, "Please tell me you don't REALLY see yourself as being that heavy..."
7. I'm no longer "embarrassed" to order off the kid's menu. I just wish there were more offerings than chicken nuggets shaped like dinosaurs and mac & cheese. =/
8. Even though I declared war on my "gobbler" (where my 3rd chin used to be), it is a VERY obvious sign that the sleeve is working.
9. Just coming off a 4 week stall and being so stinkin' frustrated, at the end of the stall, my skinny jeans are loose! Although the scale doesn't move, the fat did - somehow!
10.When people ask how much I've lost, their next question is, "How much did you weigh?!" and are MOUTH AGAPE when I tell them I started this journey at 257 lbs.
11.The image in my head of how I look is still, and may always be, a big girl. I can't get used to being this much smaller.
12.I am a SLOOOOOW loser - but this is my journey and I will not compare it to the journey of anyone else. If my body acted like the body of someone else, I might not have needed this surgery!
13.There is no reason to drink a yucky protein shake! There are too many different types of protein out there and so many things you can add to make it taste better.
14.I eat what I like, making healthy choices, and indulge, in moderation from time to time - and the world keeps spinning!
15.I love the look on people's face when I say, "I do not get hungry. I now eat to live, not live to eat."
16.I hardly ever want to thunder punch the throat the 102 lb girl who says she forgets to eat... because I, too, forget to eat.
17.There is NO substitute for a good support system.
18.The experiences of those who took this journey before me is absolutely invaluable! I've learned more here than in my dr's office.

Just some super random thoughts this Sunday morning! I hope you're all having a fabulous day.

[Harts4you]

Great post! Thank you for writing it.

[GraceMom]

You said It! Just keeps getting better and better, huh?

[reading mom]

Love your list!!! Why is it that the clothes in my dryer only shrink in length and never in width?!!

[Just Mon]

Love your list!!! Why is it that the clothes in my dryer only shrink in length and never in width?!!

That is the truth! It's a conspiracy, I tell ya.

[Just Mon]

You said It! Just keeps getting better and better, huh?

It really does! I had a hard time in the beginning - lots of acid reflux that 6-8 pills a day wouldn't knock down and a LOT of issues with dairy (that I didn't discover for several weeks). I had a good amount of regrets. I'm so, so thankful that it turned around.

[christine53]

Well put! Just great!

[Neet]

Thanks for sharing your positive and insightful thoughts!

[Neet]

Love, Love, Love this!!

[Narasweet]

Fabulous post, you write well , love the humour but you nailed so many things I can tick too, keep on loving the new choices and work on really seeing who you are each day, be proud as well as happy! The sleeve is a great tool but I have to get up and make good choices every single day, it is hard work to get the best outcomes!

[Just Mon]

Thank you all for the kind words. I still have a ways to go, I'd like to lose another 30 lbs. My doctor really never set a goal for me, so I'm just throwing things out there.

It helps for me to put posts like this out in the world so that next month when I'm gaining and losing the same 2 lbs for weeks, I can come back and get some motivation, again!