The Long Road... - Page 14 - ThinnerTimes - Gastric Bypass Forum, Lap Band Forum, and Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy Forum

OsoDelDesierto · 02-17-2008, 04:28 PM

Mike, you're looking great! What an attractive couple you and Liz are, and what a great WOW moment caught on film! I always love stories of people fitting into seats (a hope of mine), but your story of catching your reflection at school was truly priceless...

fisher1000 · 02-17-2008, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OsoDelDesierto

Mike, you're looking great! What an attractive couple you and Liz are, and what a great WOW moment caught on film! I always love stories of people fitting into seats (a hope of mine), but your story of catching your reflection at school was truly priceless...

Muchas Gracias, my soon to be skinny amigo! I left you a message on your profile page!

Hope things are going well for you!

-Mike

Persephone · 02-17-2008, 08:38 PM

Hey,

I spent some time reading your blog tonight. Good stuff. I would have browsed through earlier but the link is blocked from my work addy.

You have a beautiful family. Your daughter is so very adorable.

AND you are very computer savvy.

*goes back to figure out how to customize profile*

" 'how did it go so fast?' We'll say as we are looking back. And then we'll understand, we held gold dust in our hands."

Rain · 02-17-2008, 10:39 PM

I had a wow when I went to a resturant and could skoot into a booth and not touch the table, plus I can turn and stretch my legs out on booth seat. I was so excited then when I left it was like wow I don't have to adjust the steering wheel in the truck anymore. The WOW"S are so much fun.

fisher1000 · 02-22-2008, 08:45 PM

I spent a couple of hours in the closet this evening. (Literally...I'm not speaking metaphorically...)

I bagged up four bags of clothes...the big garbage bags. I'm getting rid of at least 20 pairs of pants and 20 or so shirts. I went back there originally because Jerry posted pics the other day of his clothes pile, and I realized that I needed to do it too.

I didn't expect to be overwhelmed. It dawned on me that even though my weight may fluctuate once I get to my goal, I'll most likely never be my fattest weight ever again. I remember this time last year feeling helpless and hopeless, and that one thought about not being this weight again is very empowering.

I'm giving the clothes away through a yahoo group called "Freecycle." When you join the group, you can get or give things that you or others want to get rid of, rather than the items being thrown away. My wife and I have gotten several things over the years--an extra baby seat, bases for the baby seat, CD's, DVD's, all kinds of stuff, and we've been able to get rid of a bunch of stuff too that we otherwise would have just thrown out. This way, the items are getting used, and not taking up space in a landfill somewhere. I like the way it works. If you are interested, you can google freecycle in your own hometown, there's probably one started already. They say one man's trash is another man's treasure, and on the Freecycle group, that is absolutely the truth!

Anyway, I posted the clothes to the Freecycle group about an hour ago, and immediately got close to a dozen responses. My clothes will be going to a teenager who recently had brain surgery and is in dire need of the clothes. That's like getting two gifts in one...it's great that I can finally let go of my fatter self, but it's also great that someone in need will be helped as well.

I feel electric. My life is changing so fast, and for the first time in a long time, I'm really enjoying being me.

Also, can I add that we went to Old Navy yesterday and I bought 6 items: 3 T-shirts, 2 button down shirts, and some socks, all for $54. Had I bought those at the Big and Tall store, it would have been at least $150, or more. Oh, and everything I bought was 2X, and even though I thought that stuff looked too small to fit me, it fit anyway, even the button up shirts. I'm only 2-4 inches in the waist away from being able to wear their brand of pants. I can't wait.

Sorry this is long, I just keep thinking about how great things are right now, and I'm still thrilled that I made the decision to do what I've done.

-Mike

MiladyB · 02-22-2008, 09:02 PM

Looks like you and I have something else in common, Mike. When I went and cleared out my closet the first time my clothes also landed on Freecycle. I mentioned in my thread on Freecycle that I had wls. It was amazing the emails I got filled with encouragement and questions about the surgery. It just opened a huge door for me to share.

Out of that post a wonderful friendship developed. Luna Lurker, who occasionally posts on here contacted me. She was just starting out in the process of going to the orientation and seeking approval for wls. We emailed each other for quite some time until we finally met at a support group meeting. Since that time we have developed kind of a mentor type relationship which has grown into so much more. She is now the other half when it comes to my support group and my constant cheer leader. I don't know what I would do without her.

You know next time you post on Freecycle..try mentioning that you had surgery. I think the reponse will amaze you.

fisher1000 · 02-22-2008, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiladyB

You know next time you post on Freecycle..try mentioning that you had surgery. I think the reponse will amaze you.

I put that in already...and have already gotten a couple of emails from folks unrelated to wanting the clothes!

It's awesome!

-Mike

MiladyB · 02-22-2008, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fisher1000

I put that in already...and have already gotten a couple of emails from folks unrelated to wanting the clothes!

It's awesome!

-Mike

Good for you!!

It is amazing isn't it? I don't know, just something kind of empowering about it. Well at least I found it was.

Well congratulations. It's been nice reliving some of those early feelings that I had when I read your posts. Thank you for sharing them.

Nyn · 02-23-2008, 07:10 PM

I've never heard of Freecycle -- thanks for the rec!

I'll never get over the feeling of getting rid of so much clothes all at once. It's like...woah. Good for you, Mike, with everything you're doing. As you know, we seem to shadow each other's progress. My mom just surprised me with the gift of an outfit bought right off the rack at Costco. Woo hoo! I just got my tax refund, and of course I don't want to waste too much money on clothes that won't fit in awhile, but you know I just have to go have the experience of walking into the actual mall and going into a store (other than Lane Bryant) to buy something that fits.

Thanks, as always, for sharing your thoughts.

waterbottle · 02-23-2008, 11:26 PM

Good Morning to everyone...

I thought I would let you know we use free cycle here in the UK as well. I put my clothes on here and no one wanted them I had 6 carrier bags full of size/18 /20/22/24/ I agree it is a wonderful feeling to have the clear out... but also very scary as the cost to replace them is a shock as well.

I went out to a craft show and got talking to a lady who is on a slimsure diet and had lost 4 stone in 3 months and asked me about my clothes so I gave them to her and it was odd seeing her wearing my old clothes... but made me see how far I had come.

I have now got down to a size 14/16 and so happy to be feeling more normal again but still feel like a huge person trying to get the weight off. I guess that is from all the years of being over weight.

well done on your weight loss