Thought I'd share my first ever before and after pictures...

[Mickens]

I've been taking pre surgery pics and of course post surgery pics since my surgery on Feb 2nd 2014 but I have yet to post any.  No real reason behind it just wasn't ready to put it out there yet.

But last week I hit a goal that almost brought me to tears.....I'm officially under 300lbs....294 to be exact.  

HW:478 SW:433

I can't put into words how I'm feeling just to say, my ds has given me my life back.  I haven't felt this good in I don't know how long and everyone around me notices it.  It can be quite overwhelming all the attention Ive been receiving.  I even got hit on big time at the bank last week by one of the tellers!!! I immediately called my wife after and told her cause for some strange reason I felt like I did something wrong.  Dumb I know....my wife just laughed and said "Well you are a hottie and I'm gonna have to start fighting women off of you!"

Anyways I'll keep it short and sweet, I don't post much on here as I prefer to just soak up all the information and advice given here.  I thank all of the vets who've taken time out of their days to help me and fellow newbies.

Thanks again

I posted a couple pictures(I hope they work, let me know if they don't)

The first is with my beautiful daughter about 2 years ago at about my HW

The second is a couple weeks ago after scoring a sweet Neil Diamond shirt at goodwill for 2 bucks....a 2x even!! I was wearing 5x 

My 

[nursemelanie]

Sweet !! Awesome transformation. Congrats!

[west4thavenue]

Wow Wow WOW! You look great, Mickens! Congratulations on your amazing milestone. And yes, your daughter really is beautiful!

[illinids2]

Looking good my man.

[OnMyWay2Thin]

Excellent, great job! You're an inspiration.

[Joanne]

Awesome! Congratulations.
I really liked to read the part where you talk about how great you feel, too

[dawn4511]

Amazing great job working it :-)

[PrettyGirlBounce]

That's amazing! You look awesome...sounds like the wifey likes what is HERS too! Congrats on your milestone. That is a majorly big deal. Thanks for sharing your pics.

[teachermomolp]

I confirm the wife's assessment- HOTTIE!!! Congrats!

[bboop]

Looking good - way to go!

[derinoe]

Congrats! Get your wife a whip so she can keep ladies off you.

[goodkel]

You are looking GOOD, sir!

Congratulations on your wonderful success!

And there is even more to come...

[ttfulmer]

Great Job, keep it up

[mark540]

Looking good Dude! I want to go to the Neil Diamond concert.

[Girlrocker]

WONDERFUL update, I'm tearing up right along with you! You look fantastic, and everything you shared is so moving, makes me want to clap and cheer for you! And your wife sounds like a keeper

[Mickens]

Thank you all so much for the kind words and encouragement!!!

@joanne I'll try not to sound long winded, but being almost 500lbs and working a very physical job(Lots of walking,lifting,bending etc...)as well as working 12-13 hours shifts It was really starting to kick my ass. Even after losing the first 50 or so pounds I was starting to notice the difference....my feet,legs and back are holding up alot better. I had pretty bad back problems and now my back doesn't act up at all!! My coworkers constantly praise me in my transformation and tell me I've got quite the pep in my step so to speak. The other day, i ran to open a door for a coworker....I RAN!!! Can't remember the last time I did that. I also have been working out religiously.

I'm not working out to lose weight the ds is taking care of that part for me.....I'm not concerned with saggy skin...i knew that was part of the deal and I know no amount of working out is going to fix it and I don't plan to have plastics, but overall I feel 200% better from working out. I'm addicted.

Because of advice of vets I started off on the right track with regards to eating and vitamins....I'd probablly be hurting if it wasn't for them.

I know i'm early out and i know things can and do happen and I don't plan to let up anytime soon...I really look at this surgery as a new chance at life and I'm not going to take advantage of it.

The weight loss as affected every aspect of my life....example I bought my wife tickets for Paul McCartney this sat. for her birthday before I'd be very anxious about seating...fitting into the seats sitting next to people who will look down on me for being overweight....no more for the first time i'm looking forward to an event like this without worry!

I could go on and on and I won't bore you all with everything, I know you here it everyday from newbies such as myself, but my thanks to all of you that have helped,encouraged and even criticized me. Id be a mess if it wasnt for you. Again i don't post on here much as I'm pretty passive and just like to stick to the back ground, but i'll make sure to keep you all updated

Cheers!

[shiftedsanity]

Way to go....I am in week one.... ant wait til my kneeset me run...congrats

[michellemj]

Awesome!

[fallds]

Congrats on your success! It truly is amazing the difference it makes. For me, and it sounds like this for you as well, it is less about looks but more about just being able to feel like a normal person again. To go to a restaurant and not panic if they seat you in a booth that you wont fit or that a chair might break when you sit on it. To wear what you like instead of what fits and not have to worry so much about being so easy to point out in a crowd of people who you feel are probably making fun of you. The anxiety that comes with obesity is overwhelming and people who have never experienced it just cannot understand.

Keep up the good work and enjoy this new chapter of your life with your family! =)

[Deleted]

If I could like your post 1000 times I would. Even though i was not as heavy to start with, I feel the same things you do now, and your not done losing yet!

It's so nice to be ignored in public, not be pointed out, and no special accommodations made for me or others I am around. I used to have to tell my freinds that we need a table and not a booth, but now, I can go with the flow, and not worry about those things.

I've told this story in older posts, but not recently.

When I was about a year out, I was working with my dad in his yard, (heavily sloped yard) building a boat dock. We were climbing this hillside multiple times through the day. about half way thru, I started running up the hill. My dad was like 'slow down, take your time, WHY are you running???!!'.

My response quited him up. I said in a very normal tone, and NOT gasping for air like I usually was going up and down the hill,

" BECAUSE I CAN " He didn't say a word about me running up the hill the rest of the day.

I'm with you on the excess skin, It's part of the deal, No plastics for me either, saggy butt, pannis, hips, and back of my thighs and all.

Congrats Mickens, You have arrived!