234 Days Down, 14 REALLY Long Days to Go... Oh, and Hi!

Well, hey there, friends! How have you been? Read any good books lately? Cool...

Juuuuust kidding. You're here for me, aren't you? I'm flattered. Truly.

If you're reading this, you recently learned via a wordy, melodramatic Facebook post that I will be undergoing gastric sleeve surgery later this month. Or, you didn't know me at all and found this site through pure happenstance or a link from a friend and had no idea what you were getting yourself into, but that friend thought you might enjoy what you're about to read. How the hell am I supposed to know?

Anyway, hi. Today's post is important because it's the first one, and that one is always pretty important. Today is April 14, 2022, and is the day that I began the two-week, all-liquid diet to shrink my liver (also known as the 'pre-op diet') before I undergo surgery on April 28th.

It's very 'on brand' for me to write about shit like this in my life because for some reason I feel like people will actually read it and I'll become internet famous as a blogger. I've wanted to maintain a blog for a long time, but it turns out that my life is just not interesting enough to warrant frequent enough posts to capture an audience like you handsome devils. This time, however, is different, because this blog serves an additional purpose as a means of chronicling my new "journey" (ugh, I really fucking hate calling it that), which is apparently highly recommended by the folks who know more about these things than I do.

On top of that, while I may never rake in millions of readers and retire from my day job to live lavishly on a blogger's salary, I would like to think that there are a few people in my life who are at least somewhat curious about how this adventure will turn out and might even want to watch me succeed. Or fall fat on my face (see what I did there?). So here we are.

Over the next few posts, I will share more of how I got here and where I hope to land, but today's post is focused on the starting line. While the process actually began in August 2021, today is the day that kicked off the countdown to The Big Day. Let's dive in, friends.

First, let's talk numbers.

My highest weight: 346 pounds (2018-19ish)

My starting weight: 308 pounds (August 23, 2021)

My current weight: 282.8 pounds (April 14, 2022)

My surgery goal weight: 267.8 pounds (My surgeon wants 15 more pounds gone by surgery)

My short-term goal: 199.9 pounds (ONE-DERLAND!)

Ultimate goal: 135-175 (somewhere between the "experts' opinion" and my guess)

Haven't done measurements yet but I will do those before surgery.

And what you're all really here for: the before photos. Maybe one day I'll be ballsy enough to post photos in just a bra, or at the very least baring my belly, but today is not that day. Today you get my standard uniform of all-black-everything. Also, pardon my face -- it came like that.

These were taken after a very long day at work, after the kid was put to bed and when I was pretty much ready to crash. I think my busted appearance and look of sheer exhaustion adequately depict the rough, unrefined nature that is so appropriate for the "before" shots, no?

I kind of feel like these pics are cheating a bit because I've already lost a significant chunk of weight since the process started, and even more so since my highest weight ever. Andplusalso, the black clothing really does disguise exactly how large I am. So just for shiggles, here are some photos of me pre-now.

So, there you have it, friends. I'm almost there. Stay tuned -- next up are details of the process thus far and what exactly this pre-op diet looks like. Words of encouragement very much welcomed and appreciated!

XOXO,

Sarah