May - Then and Now

A year ago... my life changed.  It changed in ways it has never changed before.

- My husband came home from Iraq for almost a month.
- My mother died.
- I lived my last month as a fat girl.

I've been going back looking at a lot of pictures from May of 2010 and realizing how fat I really was.  I mean... I knew the number on the scale said 325 and holy shit, that is a lot... but I never really truly looked at myself as being that big.   I saw the pictures, I knew I was huge... but I never really felt it in my core that I was so big.

I guess I always felt I looked, even at 325lbs, the way I do now... beautiful.   I guess I was in denial.  Because 325lbs was not beautiful.  

And.... to be really honest here.  I do not know what my husband saw in that fat girl.  Seriously.  She is not pretty. I feel so blessed to know that my husband loves me for who I really am inside.

Let's take a look back at some pictures of me from a month before my surgery - May 2010.

My husband is so tiny sitting next to me. 

The baby shouldn't be the same size as my face. 

I'm was the size of all three of my friends put together.  Sad. 

The width of my midsection and the size of my neck astound me looking back at these pictures. 

Let's move on to the good stuff..... here are some pictures from May 2011.   This is how I've always pictured myself looking.  It's amazing to finally realize that I'm actually there.  I'm healthy, in shape, and at a weight where I don't look like a balloon.  

Is that my neck and cheeks?  I actually have a face! 

Uhm... am I actually smaller across than my husband now?  YES!

:) Happy :) 

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Weight Loss Recap
Today's weight: 186lbs
Total weight loss: 139lbs
Weight loss since surgery: 128lbs
BMI: 29.1

Is that a flat tummy?

Well sorta. It only looks flat because of the leggings I've got pulled up to my boobs.  But hey, that's not the point.  The point is this:

I weigh ONE HUNDRED NINETY POUNDS!  What?  Huh 190lbs? Yes.  That is correct!

So... for all you math geeks out there, that's a grand total of 135lbs down from my highest weight of 325lbs.

Today, I also was determined to find some summer clothes since it's in the 70's here now.  I can't wear sweaters and leggings forever! So... to the PX I went to try on everything they had... again.  I DID though find 2 pairs of capri pants and a few shirts.  Guess what size they were?

12!  I'm a size 12 pant now!!!!  I fluxuate between a M, L and XL in shirts though, depending on the fit.  But, both pairs of capri's I got were a 12!   I don't think  I've been a size 12 since jr high!  I can't believe that I've started shrinking again!!

And you know what... it's totally because I started exercising again.  I've walked/run several times in the last week and I feel great about it!  The scale is moving and it's because I'm exercising and eating right!  It's such a great motivator!

Yay!

One last thing... my BMI has dropped from being "Obese" to just "Overweight" at 29.8.  Sweet! My BMI before surgery was 50.9.

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Weight Loss Recap
Today's weight: 190lbs
Total weight loss: 135lbs
Weight loss since surgery: 124lbs
BMI: 29.8

Happy Birthday to Me!

Last year on my birthday I weighed 325lbs.  This year on my birthday I weighed 202lbs.

123lb difference!!

I spent the day with my BFF Jen at the Hard Rock Cafe, the same place we went last year! So, of course, I had her take some pictures so I could do a side-by-side comparison of the difference a year can make!

Click on the picture to make it bigger! 

We tried going up on the roof so I could get the same picture as last year, but it was closed.  So we went out on the street and got this shot for the comparison!

Click on the picture to make it bigger! 

I'm really looking forward to seeing what the next year brings me!!! Just about 26 days or so until I start my journey with my family to Germany! 

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Weight Loss Recap

Today's weight: 201lbs
Total weight loss: 124bs
Weight loss since surgery: 113lbs

An update of photos...

Well, I don't have much new to say... other than HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMILY!  11 years ago she was born and I'm happy to report I weigh less than I did even before I got pregnant with her!! Yay!

Anyhoo... I do however have some recent photos to share!  As of this morning I'm down 109lbs and am feeling fabulous!  Another 17lbs until I reach my main goal of being under 200lbs! I wonder if I can do that before we move... I think that'd be awesome.  I should probably stop sneaking Christmas cookies though for that to happen.  haha

Oh... tomorrow, I go in for my 6 month check-up with my surgeon.  I get to find out how my vitamin levels are doing, protein levels, etc are.  Also, I'm going to ask him for a referral to a surgeon in Germany AND when I can start thinking about the full body lift to get rid of all this extra skin!! :) Yay!!

On to the pictures!

I'm all dressed up in my new outfit (yes, that's a waist I have!! hehe), make up done at Sephora, hair all cute.... looking fantabulous!! And really... .feeling even better! 

This is me and my best friend Desi of almost 20 years! We met the summer before high school started and now she lives just a few minutes away from me!  This picture was taken last night before we left for a party! Aren't we sexy? 

My handsome husband :)  We look so cute together! 

This is me and Jen on my birthday in Feb. 2010. 

This is me and Jen last night.  WOW! Big difference! 

And cause it's her birthday... an extra picture of me and my babygirl Emme  from last night! 

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Weight Loss Recap

Today's weight: 216lbs
Total weight loss: 109lbs
Weight loss since surgery: 98lbs

JavaCupcake Before & After

I've been blogging at JavaCupcake.com since January 2009... and since then I've attended a few events.

Back in February of this year, I attended Cupcake Camp Seattle where I had a display of my cupcakes and took a picture standing behind it.

Today, I participated in Will Bake for Food where I had my cupcakes and other goodies on display and took another pictures behind it.

105lbs later.... I look so different!!!! I thought this was a cool side-by-side photo though... what a huge difference this surgery has made! I look like a completely different person!

CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO SEE IT LARGER!

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Weight Loss Recap

Today's weight: 220lbs
Total weight loss: 105bs
Weight loss since surgery: 94lbs

Boobs

Yes, you read that right.  Boobs.  I've always had big boobs, but they've never been one of those things that really stood out on my body.  Mainly because there was so much of everything else, they were hidden.

Lately, I've been wearing tighter fitting shirts.  Ones that well, show off my boobs.  And seriously, I think they are looking damn good!!  Yay for boobs!

Just to add a comparison, my friend Erica found this old pic of me from last summer.  4th of July I think.  Gross, huh? lol  My boobs look SO MUCH BETTER now!! 

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Weight Loss Recap

Today's weight: 231bs
Total weight loss: 94bs
Weight loss since surgery: 83lbs

Take Me Out to the Ballgame! Part 2

Saturday night was my first Mariners game since my surgery.  It was also my last Mariners game before we move to Germany.  It was a night full of mixed emotions... excited, happy, sad, proud, accomplished.

See, I've been going to Mariners games my entire life.  My love for baseball all started when I was little and my big brother, Robert, would take me into the street in front of our house and play catch with me.  He'd quiz me on the Mariners line ups and he'd teach me everything he knew about baseball.  Baseball was the one thing that brought me and Robert together.  Still today, it's the one thing we always have in common.

The last time I was at Safeco Field for a game, I couldn't fit comfortably in the seats.  I was cramped, the people next to me were cramped.  I sweat.  And I was just uncomfortable.  I had gone into the M's Team Shop looking for a new hoodie, but left empty handed when nothing fit me.  I was just too big for any of the cute stuff.

Dave and I arrive at The Safe and we go straight to the Team Shop.  I was down 80+ pounds and I wanted a new hoodie to commemorate my final game and my weight loss.  Walking into that store, knowing I didn't have to buy the biggest size they had, knowing I could try on anything I wanted and it would fit... well, I've never experienced a feeling quite like that before at Safeco.

I picked out this, and it's only an XL.  Not an XXL or XXXL like I used to wear.  Regular ole XL!!

We get to our seats and to my surprise, when I sat down, there was room on either side of me!  I fit!! And what was even more amazing, I could cross my legs!  What? YES!! Cross my legs!!

(On a side note:  Crossing my legs is my new favorite thing.  When I was fatter, there was no way my big ole legs could be crossed.  So now that I can do, I do it all the time!!  There is just something about crossing my legs that makes me feel more like a woman, more feminine.)

So, I got a new jacket and I fit in the seats.  A M A Z I N G feelings both of those things were.

The night ended with me in tears.  Safeco, the Kingdome and the Seattle Mariners have been a  part of my summer my whole life.  As I stood at the top of the stairs, looking down onto the glory that is the Mariners... I cried.  All the memories, joy, laughter that was had in this amazing place will be cherished in my heart forever.   I even got engaged there (on the center field scoreboard!!!).  I'm getting choked up now just thinking about how much I'm going to miss Seattle baseball.

Good news though... I'm still losing weight and victories like these are being had all the time!  Weight loss is amazing and I'm so happy with my progress!

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Weight Loss Recap

Today's weight: 241bs
Total weight loss: 84bs
Weight loss since surgery: 73bs

75lbs - Before & After

Last night was EPIC!  Dave's platoon had an all expenses paid cruise on an Argosy boat in downtown Seattle.  I got to buy some new clothes for the event and I was SO EXCITED to be able to fit into super cuteness from Torrid in a smaller size than before!! Of course.... TONS of pictures were taken, but none of just me.  So here's one with everyone cropped out in a before & after!

75 POUNDS!

So, it's been a minute since I've written on Skinny Betsy... but, I've been a little preoccupied!  Now that things have settled down a bit,  I have more time to get back to writing.

First things first... I hit 75 POUNDS lost today!!  I stepped on the scale this morning and I was like WOO HOOOOO I can't believe it! I kept saying outloud to myself and my husband, "I lost 75lbs! I lost 75lbs! I lost 75lbs!"  It's like I had to say it to myself over and over before I really believed it.  I am becoming a different person, inside and out and sometimes... it's just hard to believe!

Here's a pic from last week... not quite 75lbs yet, but close!

Dave and I are going to start walking together... which I'm really looking forward to! And... we're getting a stationary bike from a family friend.  So I'm really looking forward to riding that too!  I have a goal of taking the hike down to the bottom of Snoqualmie Falls before we move to Germany.  I'm hoping to do it soon!!

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Weight Loss Recap

Today's weight: 250lbs
Total weight loss: 75lbs
Weight loss since surgery: 64lbs

My Soldier is Home!!!

My sister said...

After seeing this picture (taken today at the spray park), my sister said on FB, "Omg.  Where did your face go????"  I knew I had lost some weight in my face, but I wasn't expecting that reaction!! haha  Thanks, Tressa!

25lbs down as of today and I'm feeling pretty good.  Not great, but better than earlier this week.  Keeping up my protein intake and making sure to get in 30 mins of exercise.  Go Me!!

Weight Loss Recap
Today's weight: 289lbs
Total weight loss: 36lbs
Weight loss since surgery: 25lbs