coops

Hey, you look amazing; healthy, fit and happy! IGNORE those negative comments... probably jealous!!! Keep up the good work! x

Hey! Congratulations... you have lost another person!!!! Don't let the cookies help you find him...lol =]

You can do it... I packed up the smokes 4 weeks ago after I had pneumonia and a two day stay in hospital... didn't enjoy that one bit! Unfortunately I gained 6lb... I've lost some of it but I am struggling to get the last 2-4lb off... but I will do it! Back to the gym for me next week...!! Good luck =]

Hey Chilo... OMG... you look amazing... you're gonna have to send down the stuff that is too big for you..heheheeee! I bet you feel amazing too xx

Wow, what a difference... can tell you are working out too... and not far from goal!! Well done!!

Hey, goal is a very emotive place for me to be honest... I set mine by the BMI, I sometimes wonder if I will get there cos if feels soooo far away. In between now and then, I tend to focus on smaller goals, for example my first mini goal was to wear my engament ring for longer than an hour... then it was exercise related eg, do more than 10 mins on the treadmill... you get the picture... I read somewhere that your body will tell you when to stop losing... lets see!? Sel, congrats on your weight loss so far, you are doing really well!! When it comes to goals you gotta do what is right for you! Good luck and let us know what you decide =]

Chilo, well done my lovely ( makes sure you say it with a welsh accent, for full effect...hehehee)!! You are doing soooo well... I am really happy for you and so close to goal. You are kicking a$$ ...loves it! x

Hey, I was told similar by my surgeon, but he followed that with, higher is possible as long as you continue to eat protein first and include exercise... I am sorta hoping that I can lose most of it...!

Hey Peggy... 21st Oct... and doing well, congrats on your weight loss so far! Don't forget you are still healing and that will magnify things. I too remember being moody in the first 6 weeks... and more recently I have also been moody again! I am now able to recognise when I am having an 'off' day and I just go with the flow...lol... Keep your chin up! =]

I bet it is... that is, well, I can't find the words to describe that... basically 'cos I have never been in a size 8!!!! I'd be happy, very happy, in a UK 12...lol Do you exercise? Well done again!

Dizzy Lizzy... well said!!!!! I am fixated on the scale as a means of success... and reading your post has made me realise that it isn't all about numbers... I have had a tough couple of weeks... yet, in work I an getting compliments daily and people telling me that I 'look' like I have lost more weight... so, yea, the scales is not the be all and end all... thank you for reminding me! x

HEY.... goal in five months... how good is that... congratulations, you have done a fantastic job! Stories like this always cheer me up, especially when I am struggling along, as I am at the moment, so this was timed perfectly!! Tell me... what is the best thing about being at goal... give me something to aim for and to dream about xx

Well Done... I bet you are walking on water... I know I would be... keep up the good work xx

Ok... I need HELP!! In the three weeks that I haven't smoked I have gained 4lb... yes GAINED 4lb and that has really been in the last week!!! I have not 'binged' or replaced food for ciggies...and I couldn't over eat even if I wanted to! Granted I haven't done much exercise but the DR said I should wait for 4-6 weeks after pneumonia to exercise again... I have been walking... but nothing like I was doing! I am soooooo worried that this weight gain is connected to the no smoking... I am in a quandry!!! I really can't afford to put weight back on... especially as I am such a slow loser anyway!! Words of wisdom from my VSG friends is seriously needed here....please

Pauline... 3 mths = 3 1/2 stone (49lb) ... that is amazing... hunger or not!!! well done and congrats!|!! with the hunger thing... is it physical or head hunger... is it acid? will a glass of Water help get rid of it? On my programme I am only allowed to eat three times a day... so if I get hungry between meals I have a drink of water or a cup of tea... dunno, it might work for you... it does for me! Let us know what happens x

Hey Ange... yea I defo think we meed to meet up to thank him personally!! Just imagine at the concert we will both be getting jiggy with it... I am going to do a mood board type thing to take to the gym with me, in it will be my ticket along with a picture to help with 'the power of the Willimas' lol, and all the things that I want to do and things I want to wear when I am at target. So, I will put a pair of size 10 (UK) Bench jeans, a bikini, a squash racket and so on! Fingers crossed that by then it will become reality! xx

Bonbon, this is not stupid at all... and it touched me to be honest. Firstly, congratulations on your excellent weight loss since Aug, that must make you feel better both phsycially and emotionally! Keep it up! I completely understand where you are coming from with your weight and the opposite sex. My position is slightly different though. I was never obese when I was single, overweight but I 'carried it well' and I was still active and fit. My real weight problem has been since I have been married and I have often wondered why my husband stayed with me when I was so big and unhappy. Truth is we can't stop other people having feelings for us or being attracted to us, regardless of what we think of ourselves and what our demons are doing to our self confidence. I agree with Tiff, there has probably been fellas who have showed you 'romantic' interest, but you have probably rebuffed them not realising it! Use this weight loss journey to re-evaluate who you are... think about how you deserve to be fit and healthy, and yes that includes being attractive to others....AND YOURSELF!!!! Remember, you deserve to be happy too...

Erm, would he do the cooking??? Problem solved??? Don't shout at me... just a thought!! x

Hello, today I spent six hours and four minutes trying to get tickets to see Robbie Williams reunited with Take That in Cardiff; fortunately, I can now announce that I was successful and I am the proud owner of four tickets for the 15th June 2011! Now, you might be wondering what the hell this has to do with my sleeve... well the 15th June is around two weeks before my first year anniversary - I was sleeved in the 3rd - and so while I was sat here waiting and waiting, trying and trying to get tickets it dawned on me that I might be goal, or near goal for the concert!! How cool would that be... to be a healthy bmi, to wear what I want to and to see my pop hero!!! I suppose my ultimate motivation will now be this concert and to get to goal for it and get those skinny jeans... So ladies and gents... if Robbie Williams isn't your motivation... who or what is??????

You two are looking fab... well done and lets hope it long continues... I love the fact that you are doing it together... you have such a brilliant support system in each other!!

This is very interesting... the passion from all the responses is amazing and it just shows how wrong her comments actually are. It is because of people like her that I have such low self esteem when it comes to my body image ... people who stare, laugh, be rude about my size... hey, we all know what I am saying here!! A far as her own demons go, this is not a good enough excuse, it doesn't wash with me!! This lady is apparently a professional writer and with that comes responsibility, she should keep her personal opinions to herself!

Hey, Hahahaaa... Tiff, that made me giggle... love it!! I too have saved two pairs of trousers ... one pair of 3/4 jeans that used to be snug and a pair of black linen work trousers... had to save these two items!! I too am a visual person and it does help me get through the harder times!

Cheers Tiff... yea, that makes sense. I have increased my water today, and will continue to do so as I have slacked off a little lately, but I haven't been well so I suppose I need to get focused and stop moaning...lol

Hey Jordien, thanks for your help! Yea, I use myfatsecret to monitor what I eat and my Protein is normally 60g or above... I was just wondering if using Protein shakes and bars as a Meal Replacement would speed up my weight loss and perhaps stop these stalls that I get... I dunno... suppose I am just feeling a little down!! I have given up the smokes too and I am soooo worried that this will affect my weight loss, last week I stayed the same and this week - mid week weigh in and therefore unofficial - I have gained 2lb... this is the first time I have gained and I am really worried!!!!!

Ok, I really need some advise here... My surgeon has never mentioned Protein bars and drinks... he did say to eat protein first and ensure that my diet is rich in protein, which is mostly is (by that I mean over the last two weeks, when I have been really poorly I have waivered a little but otherwise it is protein first all the way). Now, although my weight loss is ok, it seems to be a lot slower that others and there are regular periods of my weight staying the same... so... my question is; do I invest in some Protein Drinks and include them in my daily calorie intake, or should I just keep plodding along? Oh by the way, I am in the UK so if anyone can recommend a Protein Drink that I can buy here... if you think it would be worth me trying them out??? Cheers Coops x