#whyihadwls

#latergram bring back the 60 degree weather, my bike, and more breweries please 💖 So excited for all this summer has in store. Here is to looking forward to things I would have once dreaded - biking, hiking, camping, traveling, 5ks, trying kayaking, maybe paddle boarding?! I'm so excited to have a summer where I'm perceived as "normal" - where strangers don't realize I used to be double my size, or that I used to not be able to walk up a flight of stairs without being exhausted. I'm excited to live my life as the happy, fun, positive person I see myself as. And everyday I am so grateful for the steps I took with my weight loss surgery and all of the hard work I put in to help myself overcome obesity. #vsg #wls #vsginstacrew #wlscommunity #verticalsleevegastrectomy #nsv #weightloss #weightlosssurgery #bariatricbabe #bariatricsurgery #whyihadwls #rny #rouxeny #mnwls #lifeaftervsg #extremeweightloss #weightlossinspiration #160lbsdown #weightlossmotivation #fitness #fitfam #healthy #positivevibes

I realize the sweater is a XXL. I realize it's slouchy and falling off my shoulders... but I love it. I think this is a sweater I'll never give up, even when I know half the time it looks ridiculous. It's been through a crazy year with me! . For those who ask: •I had VSG (vertical sleeve gastrectomy - a type of weight loss surgery) on Nov. 9, 2015. •My surgery was covered by insurance. •The before pictures were taken 3 months post-op, I was already down about 60lbs. •High weight: 344lbs •Low weight: 181lbs •Total lost: 163lbs •Height: 5'7" •Diet: high protein, low-ish carbs. •Exercise: HIIT classes, in the summer I enjoy hiking and biking •Yes, I have loose skin. I want to get surgery someday, finances are the main reason I won't do it sooner. #vsg #wls #vsginstacrew #wlscommunity #verticalsleevegastrectomy #nsv #weightloss #weightlosssurgery #bariatricbabe #bariatricsurgery #whyihadwls #rny #rouxeny #mnwls #lifeaftervsg #extremeweightloss #weightlossinspiration #160lbsdown #weightlosstransformation #fitfam #beforeandafter

Breaking sooo far out of my comfort zone tonight - but I got a hot date with my guy, so no time like the present, right? Found this top at target a couple weeks ago on a clearance rack and fell in love. It is sheer lace over the stomach, and very short. Two things I would have neeeeever gone for before. But I felt soooo good when I tried it on, and it was like $8, so I got it. . So unfortunately, I did not factor in that over the next two weeks I would recommit to my diet and drop 9lbs... oops. So while it fits, it doesn't fit the same, and I started picking it apart. I noticed my lower stomach still stuck out but my boobs didn't fill out the top and the chest part was loose and not hugging my skin like it did before... it resulted in a couple very worried snaps to @linds.does.life. But then I realized - holy shit I'm in a short, sheer shirt, and honestly I still look pretty damn good. . Getting over yourself can be a chore. But it's worth it. . #vsg #wls #vsginstacrew #wlscommunity #verticalsleevegastrectomy #nsv #weightloss #weightlosssurgery #bariatricbabe #bariatricsurgery #whyihadwls #rny #rouxeny #motivation #wlsjourney #bodyimage #extremeweightloss #weightlossinspiration #weightlossmotivation #160lbsdown #selflove #bodypositive #effyourbeautystandards

For those who missed it in my stories - hit a new low weight today! 🎉🎉 I'm now at 177.4lbs... that means less than 8lbs until my ultimate goal! What the heck?! That's INSANE. 170 was always my stretch goal so I could say I lost more than half my starting weight, but I never put too many eggs in that basket because, you know, typical self doubt. 💁 . But suddenly... 8lbs. I can do 8lbs. It might take time and a ton of effort... but that's doable. 😍 . One thing people always forget when telling morbidly obese people that we just need to stay dedicated to reach our goals... it's easy to say that for 10-20lbs. I wanted to lose 170lbs. The time and commitment to do that is a lot more daunting. The idea that this hill is finally reaching it's summit... oh man. 😃 . #vsg #wls #vsginstacrew #wlscommunity #verticalsleevegastrectomy #nsv #weightloss #weightlosssurgery #bariatricbabe #bariatricsurgery #whyihadwls #rny #rouxeny #motivation #wlsjourney #fitness #fitfam #extremeweightloss #160lbsdown #weightlossmotivation

My favorite day... #transformationtuesday ! Before picture was exactly 1 year ago on March 7, 2016. I ordered these elephant pants pre-op and I couldn't even pull them up my thighs. I remember showing them to @timetoautomate, excitedly explaining to him that these would be awesome because they would shrink with me and I could wear them more often. I remember this day last year because I could finally try them on and pull them up and over my stomach. And I was so thrilled and blown away. Now I still felt like a can of biscuits about to rip the seems... but I saw my weight loss and knew they would only fit better as time went on. Between these photos I lost about 91lbs, down 166lbs total from my high weight. Now my elephant pants are so loose and comfy. And I'm not stretching the poor images of elephants to twice their size... Take pictures, pre-op people! (And all of you post op kids too!) Find a couple articles of clothing like this that you can keep. It is so motivating and really reminds you of the hard work you put into your journey. #vsg #wls #vsginstacrew #wlscommunity #verticalsleevegastrectomy #nsv #weightloss #weightlosssurgery #bariatricbabe #bariatricsurgery #whyihadwls #rny #rouxeny #motivation #wlsjourney #fitness #fitfam #extremeweightloss #160lbsdown #weightlosstransformation #weightlossmotivation #losinginches #ilovemysleeve #transformation

#throwbackthursday Grateful for having a fun, active life with my nieces and nephews now. Thankful for eyes that are wide open, and a neck. Those are nice too. #tbt #vsg #wls #vsginstacrew #wlscommunity #verticalsleevegastrectomy #nsv #weightloss #weightlosssurgery #bariatricbabe #bariatricsurgery #whyihadwls #rny #rouxeny #mnwls #lifeaftervsg #extremeweightloss #weightlossinspiration #160lbsdown

#motivationmonday... a few hours early. . There is a 52lbs difference between these photos. Not to mention the thousands of other changes that stretch between the first photo in late May of 2016 compared to tonight... but the most visible is 52lbs (and a better toned hair color). . It's hard looking at this, to remember I lost an additional 111lbs ON TOP of this. It's weird remembering how gorgeous and small I felt on the left. It's difficult remembering to not discount those feelings or throw shame onto my past self for my weight. It's a really weird feeling, but I never want to look back onto myself with disgust or any negative emotions. That girl on the left made all of the choices to lose the 111lbs before that picture. And the girl on the right kept going to lose another 52lbs. Have either of them only made good decisions? Hell no! Have I continuously trended in the right direction? Absolutely. And that's what matters. . I don't hate who I was. The fat girl in me made the choice to get bariatric surgery, to follow my preop plan, to stick with my post op lifestyle. She rocks. She wanted a healthier life for her future self and made it happen. I'm proud of who I was, and who I let myself become. . #endrant #vsg #wls #vsginstacrew #wlscommunity #verticalsleevegastrectomy #nsv #weightloss #weightlosssurgery #bariatricbabe #bariatricsurgery #whyihadwls #rny #rouxeny #motivation #wlsjourney #fitness #fitfam #extremeweightloss #160lbsdown #weightlosstransformation #weightlossmotivation #swimsuit #beforeandafter

Whaaaat? My home town of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, caught wind of my weight loss and my social media and featured me in the paper this week! It was such a nicely done article, and I was so thrilled to share my story in another medium. Here's to knocking down stigmas and misconceptions about bariatric surgery one step at a time! If you want to check it out, I'll have the article linked in my bio! #vsg #wls #vsginstacrew #wlscommunity #verticalsleevegastrectomy #nsv #weightloss #weightlosssurgery #bariatricbabe #bariatricsurgery #whyihadwls #rny #rouxeny #mnwls #lifeaftervsg #extremeweightloss #weightlossinspiration #160lbsdown #orangetheoryfitness #otfmn #otf #edenprairie #edenprairienews