First photos of me at 280 pounds and now at 232

In November of 2011, I weighed more than 280+ pounds. I stopped looking at the scale at the VA hospital, when it said that I was more than 280. I don't know exactly what I weighed on the day this photo was taken. I only know that I was in a lot of pain. Both my knees were screaming, and I was only weeks away from living in my wheelchair with only a few painful steps on my walker to the bathroom.





I gave away that jacket on the day that I saw this photo. I hated how I looked. My belly was barely covered, and my butt was pushing the back of the jacket outward. I literally filled that jacket from front to back. I could barely get my pants up over my butt. I was almost splitting out the seams in the area of my inner thighs.

One year later...November 2012, my weight was down only slightly to 270.9 pounds; and my doctor and my surgeon both said that I should NOT BE STANDING OR WALKING...and certainly never without my walker. The risk was too great.My x-rays showed that degerative arthritis and years of carrying my weight had destroyed my knees. No cartilage or cushion remained in either knee. The bone heads had dozens of small fractures, just waiting to spread through the long bones. I could not afford to fall again.

My surgeon set me a goal. "Lose 70 pounds, and I will give you 2 new titanium knees." That meant...no more wheelchair, no more walker and I could walk freely again. I could run, if I wanted; but I was somewhat doubtful that I could pull off that challenge. I hadn't weighed less than 200 pounds in more than 30 years. Most of my life, I had weighed more than 240 pounds.

I ruled out gastric surgery for fear of complications and permanent 'damage' to my stomach, but I finally decided to 'give dieting a try'. In December, I decided to start counting calories. That's when I found MFP.

This morning, I weighed in at 232.0 pounds...almost 40 pounds down since my surgeon asked me to lose 70 pounds.

I had my hubbie takes some photos of me today. Clothes that really fit me are not in my closet. Everything is loose, but I am not going to buy any newer, smaller clothes...until I reach Onederland. New clothes and new knees will come at the same time.





By the way...I am wearing the same size pants in my photos today; and they are so loose that I may have to take in the waist, if I plan to wear them much longer. All of my tops are now baggy. I have no 'tight' clothing left.